ROADSTER

Tesla Roadster Recalls

All 1 NHTSA recall campaigns on the Tesla Roadster (2008–2008) — what failed, what it risks, how it gets fixed, and how many years passed before the defect was admitted.

NHTSA campaigns · 1 campaigns · Updated Aug 5, 2026
Quick answer

The Tesla Roadster has 1 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 2008–2008. On average a defect was admitted 1 years after the car was built, the slowest took 1 years. The most recalled system is Wheels (1 campaigns). Owners also filed 2 complaints on this model — see what breaks.

What was recalled on the Tesla Roadster

Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.

Wheels 100% 1 Read
2008 Tesla Roadster · 09V178000 · admitted after 1 year

What's wrong. Tesla motors, inc. Is recalling 345 my 2008 tesla roadster vehicles manufactured between march 2008 and april 22, 2009. The rear hub flange bolts on some of these vehicles may be under-torqued and may become loose. A loose hub could lead to degradation in vehicle handling, and a rubbing noise from the rear of the vehicle

Risk. If the problem is not addressed promptly, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, which could lead to a crash

Fix. Tesla will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on may 28, 2009. Owners may contact tesla toll-free at 1-877-888-3752

How long a defect stays unadmitted

Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.

FIG.03·Tesla Roadster — how fast defects were admitted
MeasureValue
Average gap before admission1 years
Slowest campaign1 years
Admitted 5+ years later—%
Campaigns on record1
ROWS 4·SOURCE ForCar, computed from NHTSA campaign numbers

Which Roadster years were recalled most

Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.

FIG.04·Tesla Roadster recalls by model year
Model yearCampaignsMost recalled system
20081Wheels
ROWS 1·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

Check your own car

A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.

FIG.05·How to check a recall by VIN
StepWhat you get
Enter the VIN aboveOpen campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA
Check the repair statusWhether the free fix has already been carried out on this car
Book at any franchised dealerRecall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner
ROWS 3·SOURCE ForCar
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Frequently asked questions

How many recalls does the Tesla Roadster have?

1 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 2008–2008. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.

Is recall work free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.

How do I know if my Roadster still has an open recall?

Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.

Why did a defect take years to be recalled?

On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 1 years, and the slowest campaign came 1 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.

Recall campaigns from NHTSA, published as filed. Years elapsed before admission computed by ForCar from the campaign number, which encodes the year it was announced. Last updated Aug 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.